Double-decked vehicle.



L. SPA'NGLER.

DOUBLE DECKED VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1914.

1,300,201 Patented Apr. 8,1919.

4 SHEETSS HEET l- Figz 74 .1

wffesses. I

hue/219 2 Zen L. SPKNGLER. DOUBLE DECKED VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-4. I914.

1,300,201. Patented Apr. 8,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- L. SP'IINGLER.

DOUBLE DECKED VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED S'EPT. 4. I914.

1,300,201. v I Patented Apr. 8,1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- L.SPKNGLER.

DOUBLE DECKEUVEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1914.

1,300,201. Patented Apr. 8,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

jig/7 LUDWIG SPL NGLEB, Oil. AUSTRIA.

DOUBLE-l neman VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919'.

Application filed September 4, 1914. Serial No. 860,283.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lonwrc SPKNGLER, a

subject of the Emperor of Austria, residin at Vienna, Empire of Austria, have inven certain new and useful Improvements in Double- Decked Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to, make and use'the same.

The invention relates to double decked vehicles more particularly tramcars and autobuses of that well known class in which longitudinal benches are arranged in the lower deck at the sides of the vehicles with a central Longitudinal passageway between them and longitudinal benches arranged back to back in the upper deck, which is provided with a roof and closed side walls, so that in theupper deck two lateral longitudinal passageways are formed between the side walls and the longitudinal double bench.

The floor of the upper deck below this double bench is cut away, whereby the clear height of the central longitudinal passageway is increased, so that passengers may stand and walk upright in this passageway Without increasing the total height of the vehicle.

The object of the present invention is to increase the stability of such vehicles by reducing the surface of the side walls of the upper deck exposed to lateral wind pressure and to furtherfacilitate the movements of the passengers on the two decks.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating diagrammatically various constructional forms of the invention Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an autobus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower deck;

Fig. 5 IS a plan of the upper deck;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentarg plan of the upper deck showing a Inodi cation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional rear elevation of the same;

Figs. 5 to 8 are views similar to Figs. lto 4, respectively, showing a modification of the rear part of the double decked vehicle;

Figs. 9 to 12 are views similar to Figs. 1 to 4, respectively, showing a further modification of the double decked vehicle;

In Figs. 1 to 12 the entrance and exit door of the lower deck is provided at the rear platform of the same.

Figs. 13 to 16 are views similar to Figs. 1 to 4, respectively, showing a double decked vehicle having the entrance and exit door of the lower deck on the side thereof near its front end;

Fig. 17 is 'a central longitudinal section of a modification of the double decked vehicle shown in Figs. 13 to .16;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of its lower deck;

F g. 19 is a plan view of its upper deck;

Fig. 20 is a vertical section on the line a b Fig. 17;

Fig. 21 is a vertical section on the line 0 d Fig. 17 and Figs. 22 to 26 are views similar to Figs. 17 to 21, respectively, showing a further modification.

In all the figures, 1 are the longitudinal benches of the lower deck running alon the side walls of the same; 2 are the longitu inal Fbenches of the upper deck located substantially centrally with their backs adjacent to each other; 3 is the rear platform of the lower deck, and 4:is the rear platform of the upper deck. 5 are the stairs leading from the lower deck to the upper deck; 6

y are the seats on the motor mans platform.

7 is the roof of-the upper deck; 8 its side walls, and 9 its transverse walls. 10 are the doors in the rear transverse wall of the upper deck; 11 is the rear transverse wall of the lower deck and 12 is the door in the latter.

In double decked vehicles, as heretofore constructed (more particularly in tram cars), either the up-perdeck is entirely inclosed, or the rear transverse wall of the same is arranged close to the upper end of the stairs leading from the lower deck to the upper deck, there being only one entrance and exit door for the upper deck in this rear transverse wall. This known construction involves the long side wall of the upper deck and therefore a comparatively great. lateral wind pressure, which should be avoided more particularly in autobuses.

According to the presentinvention, the rear transverse wall 9 of the upper deck is arranged directly atthe rearend of the longitudinal benches 2 of such upper deck, there being provided two exit and entrance doors 10 in this rear transverse wall, one for each of the two longitudinal assageways running along the longitudina double bench 2 of the upper deck. Thus, a rear platform of considerable area, with open sides is obtained in the upper deck, andthe side walls 8 of the latter are correspondingly shortened, whereby the effect of lateral wind pressure is reduced. Moreover, \the longitudinal passageways of the upper deck are shortened, which results 'in facilitating the movement of the passengers in these assageways.

Wit this constructiona transverse bench 13 (Figs. 1 and 3) may be provided on the rear platform 4 of the upper deck, outside the rear wall 9, opposite the rear end of the double bench 2 on the inside of the wall 9 so that the wall 9 forms the back of the transverse bench 1'3. The lengthof the latter being equal to the width of the double bench 2, and this bench affords two seats. The doors 10 in this case may be hinged doors, as shown in Fig. 3, there being sufiicient space for opening and closing them at the ends of the transverse bench-13; moreover, the feet of the passengers seated on the bench 13 do not interfere with the communication through these doors. 7

The'transverse bench 13 may be dispensed with, and, instead of hinged doors 10, sliding doors 10 may be provided in the rear transverse wall 9 of the upper deck, as shown in Fig. 3. As such sliding doors do not require any space for opening and closing, the available area of the upper platform 4 is increased. In this case the longitudinal benches 2 of the upper deck may be extended each by one seat at their rear ends,

and rear transverse wall of the upper deck may be arranged more to the rearward by the width of one seat, as indicated at 9 in Fig. 3, and in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the numbers of seats of the upper deck is then the same as in the arrangement shown in -'Fig. 3.

The longitudinal benches 2 of the upper deck may terminate'at their front ends in transverse benches 14, the floor of the upper deck being cut away under these transverse benches as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Thereby not only the length of the lateral passageways of the upper deck is further reduced, and the free height above the seats 6 on the front platform of the lower deck,is increased, but also the area of the side walls pf the upperdeck exposed to lateral wind pressure is reduced.

' The rear wall 11 of the lower deck may be in a plane with the rear wall 9 of the upper deck, as shownin Fig. 1.

15 are lateral seats on the platform 3 of the lower deck, which is located at a lower level than the floor of the lower deck proper (the inside) for facilitating ascending; therefore, also, the outside seats 15 are at a lower level and a few steps lead from the platform 3 to the floor of the lower deck proper as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

construction above described.

deck, in all other respects this modification, 1s ldent cal with the construction shown in Fi s. 1 to 4.

n the modification shown in Figs. 9 to 12, the double bench 2 of the, upper deck terminates in front in a transverse bench 16, the length of which is equal to the width of the said double bench. Opposite this bench 16, a transverse bench 17 is provided extending over the whole width of the vehicle; and the two benches are separated by a transverse passageway 18 communicating with the two assageways at the sides of the bench 2. he floor of the upper deck is cut away below the seats of the benches 16 and 17, and in the lower deck a transverse bench 19 connecting the front end of the longitudinal benches 1 is pr vided directly under the floor of the transverse passageway of the upper deck.

' In all other respects, the modification shown in Figs. 9 to 12 is identical with'the The two transverse benches 16 and 17 with the intervening passageway 18 constitute a transverse compartment in the upper deck. By the arrangement shown in Figs. 9 to 12, the length of the longitudinal benches 2, 2 is notably reduced (all other things being Y which start the stairs 5;

In the modification shown in. Figs. 13 to 16, a double decked vehicle is shown having the entrance and exit door 12 of the lower deck arranged at the side, the bottom of the lower deck being drawn down between the trucks as far as possible for facilitatin ascending. In the upper deck, the longitudinal benches 2 terminate at their front end in a transverse bench 16 extending to the sidewall of the vehicle, in which the door 12 1s provided; and moreover the lateral passageway of the upper deck at the same side is terminated by a short transverse bench 20, the floor of the upper deck being cut away below the seats of these transverse benches, and the door 12 being arranged directly under these benches. Opposite the bench 16 separated from the transverse bench 16 by standing room for passengers.

deck, as in the modification shown in Figs. 9 to 12, the passageway 18 being, of course, accessible from only one of the longitudinal passageways, viz. that on the side opposite. the door 12. The lower deck termlnates in a rear platform 21 which may be at a higher level than the floor of the lower deck proper and which may be suitable for seats or for The stairs 5 start from the platform 21,to' which lead a few steps from the floor of the lower level proper.

In this modification the available space is utilized as perfectly as possible and nevertheless convenient passageways are provided throu hout the vehicle.

Re erring to the modification shown in Figs. 17 to 21, in the upper deck the transverse benches and the transverse passagewa between them are dispensed with; the longitudinal bench 2 at the side of the door 12 is terminated by a short transverse bench or seat 20, as in the modification shown in Figs. 13 to- 16, at a convenient distance from the front transverse wall of the upper deck, the floor of the upper deck being cut away below the seat 20, and being conveniently raised between the back of the seat 20 and this front wall of the upper deck, for aifording a sufiicient clear height of the door 12, which is directly below these parts. The other lon-v gitudinal bench 2 of the upper deck terminates in a short transverse bench or seat 14 at the front wall .of the upper deck, as in Fig. 3-. In the lower deck, the transverse bench is dispensed with. In all other respects the construction shown in Figs. 17 to of longitudinal benches at the sides of the lower deck, longitudinal benches having their backs adjacent to each other on the upper deck, whereby a longitudinal passage way is obtained on each side of the pair of benches of the upper deck the floor below such benches on the upper deck being cut away, side walls, transverse walls and a roof for such upper deck, the rear transversewall being arranged at the end of the two benches of the upper deck and bein provided with a separate entrance door or each of the said lon tudinal passage ways of the upper deck an a transverse bench outside the said rear wall and between the said doors.

2. In a double decked car the combination of longitudinal benches at the sides of the lower deck, longitudinal benches having their backs adjacent to each other on the upper deck whereby a longitudinal passage way is obtained on each side'of the pair of benches of the upper deck. the floor below such benches on the upper deck being cut away, side walls, transverse 'walls and a roof for such upper deck the rear transverse wall being arranged at the-end of the two benches deck, a transverse bench at t e'front en the pair of benches in the upper deck extending over the width of the latter and another transverse bench o posite the firstnamed transverse bench an extending over the whole width of the upper deck of the vehicle a transverse passage wa being left between the two transverse benc es.

3. In a double decked car the combination of longitudinal benches at the sides of the lower deck, longitudinal benches having their backs adjacent to each other on the upper deck whereby a lon 'tudinal passage way is obtained on each si e of the pair of benches of the upper deck the floor below such benches on the upper deck being cut away, side walls, transverse walls and a roof for such upper deck the rear transverse wall being arranged at the end of the two benches of the upper deck and bein provided with a separate entrance door or each of the said longitudinal passage ways of the upper deck, a transverse bench at the front end of the pair of benches in the upper deck extending over the width of the latter and another transverse bench o posite the first named transverse bench an extending over the whole width of the upper deck of the vehicle a transverse passage way being left between the two transverse benches and a transverse bench connecting the longitudinal benches of the lower deck and located below. the said transverse passage way of the upper deck.

4. In a double decked car, the combination of longitudinal benches at the sides of the lower deck, longitudinal benches having their bdacllrf alclljactent tlo eachdother on the upper ec w ere y a on 'tu inal passageway is obtained on each side of the pair of benches of the upper deck, the floor below such benches on the upper deck being cut away, side walls, transverse walls, a roof for said upper deck, separate entrances for each of the said longitudinal passageways of the up r deck, a transverse benchat the front en of thepair of longitudinal benches of the upper deck, said transverse bench 'having the floor cut awa under it, and atrans- I verse bench on the ower deck below such passageway.

5. In'a double decked car, the combination of longitudinal benches at the sides of the lower deck, longitudinal benches having their backs adjacent to each other on the away, side walls, transverse walls, a roof for such ,upper deck, separate entrances for ecah of the said longitudinal passageways of the upper deck, a transverse benchat the front end of the pair of longitudinal benches of the upper deck, the said transverse benchv having the floor cut away under it and being separated from the front wall by a passageway, a transverse bench on the lower deck below such passageway, such last-named transverse bench extending between the longitudinal benches of the lower deck, and.

a transverse bench on the upper deck having its back to the rear of the vehicle.

6. In a double decked car, the combination of longitudinal benches at the sides of the lower deck, longitudinal benches having their backs adjacent to each other. on the 11' r deck whereb a lon 'tudinal assagew a y is obtained on each side of'the pair of benches of the up r deck, the floor below such benches. on t eupper deck being cut away, side walls, transverse walls, a roof for such upper deck, the rear transverse wall being arranged at the end of the two benches of the upper deck and bein provided with a separate entrance door or each of the said longitudinal passageways of the upper deck, a transverse bench at the front end'of the pair of longitudinal benches of the upper deck, the said transverse bench having the floor cut away under it and being separated from the front wall by a passageway, a transverse bench on the lower deck below such passageway, such last-named transverse bench extending between the longitudinal benches of said lower deck, and a transverse bench on the upper deck having its back to the rear of the vehicle and provided with a foot rest, the floor being cut away under such bench and foot rest.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LUDWIG SPKNGLER. Witnesses Dr. J. LIPNER, AUGUST FUGGER. 

